The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1887-04-29
BLIND ALLAN.
FROM LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF SCOTTISH LIFE

Allan Bruce and Fanny Raenburn were in no
respect remarkable among the simple inhabi-
tants Of the village in which they were born.
They both bore fair reputation in the parish,
and they were both beloved by their own
friends aud relations. He was sober, honest,
active and industrious. exemplary in the COM
mon duties of private life, possessed of tho
humble virtues becoming Lis humble condition,
and untainted by any Of those gross vices that
sometimes deform the character Of the poor.
She was modest, good tempered, coutented and
rcligious-nnd much is contained in these
four words. Beauty she was not thought to
possess, nor did she attract attention but what
ever charm resides in pure health, innocence
OF heart, and simplicity Of manners. that be-
longed to Fanny Raonburn-whi!e there wns
nothing either about her face or figure to pre-.
vent her seeming even beautiful in the ewes of
n lover.
These two humble and happy persons were
oetrothed in marriage. Their affection had in
sensib'y grown without any courtship, for they
had lived daily in each others sight; and, un-
disturbed by jealousy or rivalry, by agitating
hopes or depressing fears, their hearts had
been tcuderly united long before their troth
was sclemnly pledged and they now looked
forward, with calm and rational satisfaction,
to the happy years " bich they humbly hoped
might be stored u7 for them by bountiful
Providence.
Their love was without romance, but it was
warm, tender and true; they wcre prepared, by
its strength, TO make any sacrifice for each
others S;lkes; and had death taken away either
Of them before tho Wedding day, the survivor
might not, perhaps, have been clamorous in
grief, or visited the grave of tho departed with
nightly lamentations, but not the less would
that grief have bcca sincere, md no, the lees
faithful would memory have been to all tho i'm
ages of tho Iast.
Their marriage day was fixed, and Allan
Bruce had rented a small cottage, with q gar
den sloping down TO the stream that choered
his native village. Thither, in about two
months, he was to take his sweet and affcc-
tiona,e Fnnny-shc was to work with her nee
die rs before, and he in the fields. No change
was 10 take place in their lives, but change from
contentment to happiness and il God pro-
longed TO them the possession of health, and
blessed them with children, they feared
not to bring them decen,ly up, and to
afford sunshine and shelter TO the living flow
ers that might come to gladden. their home.
Such thoughts visited the souls of the lovers,
and they were becoming dearer and dearsr to
one another every hour that brought them
closer to their marriage day.
AT this time Allan began 10 feel slight DIM
ness in his sight of which he did not take
much notice, attributing it 10 some indispo,i-
tion, brought on by the severity of his winter
work. For he had toilcd early aud late, dur
ing at all weathers, and every kind Of labor, to
gain sum sufficient to furnish respectfully his
lewly dwelling, and also to array his sweetest
bride in wedding clothes Of which she should
not need to be ashamed. The dimness, how.
ever, each succeeding day darkened and deep
ened, till even his Fanny's face was iudistiuctly
discsrned by him, and he lost altogether tho
smile which never failed to brighten il whenever
he appeared.
Then he became sad and dispirted, for the
fear of blindness fell upon him, and he thought |
Of his steps being led in his helplessness by tho
hand Of child. He prayed to God to avert
this calamity from him but If not to besto4
upon him the virtue Of resignation. He
thought Of the different blind men whom he
had known, and, as far as he.knew, they all
seemed happy. That belief pacifed bis soul,
when he was about to give way to passionate
despair; and every morning at sunrise, when
the fast advancing verdure of spring seemed
more dim and glimmering before his eyes, he
felt his soul more and more resigned to that
final extinction of days blessed light which
he knew must be his doom before tho earth was
covered with tho flowers and fragrance of
June.
1t was as he had feared, and Allan Bruce
was now stone blind. Fannys voice had al
ways been sweet to his ear, and now il WAS
sweeter still when heard in the darkness.
Sweet had been the kisses which breathed from
Fannys lips while his eyes delighted in their
rosy freshness, but sweeier were they now
when they touched his eyelids, and he felt
upon his checks her fast trickling tears. She
visited him in his fathers house, and led him
with her gently guiding hands into the ada
ceLt fields, and down along the stream which
he said he liked to hear murmuring by ; and
then they talked together about themselves,
and on their knees prayed to God to counsel
them what TO do in their distress.
These meetings we're always happy meetings
to them both, notwithstanding the many mourn
full thoughts with which they were necessarily
attended, but to Allan they yielded support
that did net forsake him In his hours Of nm.
accompanied darkness. His love, which had
formerly been joyful in the warmth Of youth,
and in the near prospect Of enjoyment, was
now chastened by the sad sense Of his unfor-
tunate condition, and rendered thereby deep
and devout emotion which had It's comfort iu
its own unwitnessed and imperis liable truth. |